So I read a topic the other week about members talking about their '' confidence baits'' and I set a goal for myself to venture out and try new rigs. That being said, I decided to try the whacky rig. I have been using weightless 4'' and 6'' senkos and stick baits in a pond where I have thrown everything in my tackle box with very little success. I know there are big bass in there but they are always very picky and the bank is very steep all around the pond so it's really hard to be stealthy while fishing. The whacky rig has always been a bait I have just laughed off and thought '' no way that is gonna work'' but I have caught more fish in the past 2 weeks than I did all last year, this is definitely one of my new confidence baits. Just figured I would share my experience and let people know to just not try something because it may look or sound funny because I have learned first hand it could make or break a day of fishing!!!!!

Yep, I thought the wacky rig was silly at first but the first day I tried it I caught my personal best.

It's new to me, too. On my last trip, thin, 4" whacky worms outfished the same worms T-rigged 2 to 1. Who woulda thought?

Now you can laugh at those who think the wacky rig is just too "wacky" to fish!

Good to hear! I like it when someone tries something new and it works for them. Don't worry too much about your approach. Rather once you get there and settled in, give it a few minutes to settle down. Have a cup of coffee or eat a protein bar. Then commence to fishing. That should make things better.

Stuff a drywall nail in the head end and watch what happens. The biggest misconception is you have to work it. I can promise lf your shaking it...it is too much. Just hold your rod tip and on a snug line and let it work.

^^

 

You honestly don't have to work it. Just cast it out and let it sit 20 seconds then pull it, let it sit 20 seconds, and repeat.

I most fish a wacky rig on the slow to very slow side but a friend of mine fishes it with a pretty fast twitchy retrieve and has great success, even early season when the waters are still cold. When the depth is more than 6'-7' I will put on a 1/8oz weight to minimize the drop time and increase the time it will be in the strike zone.  My buddy always fishes it with at least a 1/8oz weight with the fast retrieve and does very well with that technique.  So don't be afraid to experiment with various retrieves.

 

- tate

It's always great rigging a senko wacky style around someone who has never seen it. They look at you like "...is this guy serious?" The results speak for themselves though!

I think the nail weight deal with the reverse hook deal is called a neko rig right? I stopped using it for some reason but have had awesome success with it across flats. It's looks pretty sweet wobbling across the bottom.

What would be the heaviest weight you would want to use if you are gonna use a weight with this strange phenomena called the "Whacky Rig"

Here´s a new one for you:

 

Insert anywhere from a nail weight up to a small split shot in the thicker end of your senko ( it depends on how fast you want it to sink or how windy it is )

Instead of hooking perpendicular to the bait hook longitudinally.

 

Deadly !!! 

If you don't need long casts try the zoom trick worm wacky style.  Watermelon red, black are my colors.  It doesnt cast as far but I get more bites then with a senko.

Welcome to the wacky world of plastics!!!!!!

 

Now try a 1/8oz weight with a 24" leader with your wacky rigged senko. It's called a Carolina rig. I get a little more casting distance with the weight.

 

Since I have a hard time trying in the low light I use snap swivels for the hook on the Carolina rig. I can change baits quicker. I pull off the wacky rigged senko and snap on a pre hooked brushog. I use the eagle claw weedless hooks too.

Would you use the Whacky Rig on spinning gear or casting gear.

It's generally a spinning deal. That's not to say you can't use casting gear though. Lighter actions rods with light line are best used on spinning gear.

wacky rigged trick worms and finesse worms can't be beat at a few places i fish right now.

Would you use the Whacky Rig on spinning gear or casting gear.

either, it depends on how heavy is what you are going to throw.

Several years ago I went on a spring weekend camping/fishing trip with some friends. I told them about the new technique I had been reading about (mostly on this site) that I thought might work well. You should have heard all the grief they gave me! By the end of the weekend most of the crew were believers. I have since caught many fish, including some very good ones using some variation of this technique. It is rare that I don't have one tied on. Welcome to the world of wacky!

I love the wacky rig. glad you find the courage to step and be WACKY 

I use mine on a casting rig mostly for open water or open banks.... I'll use spinning setup for thicker structure so I can make more accurate casts

Up your game and give the flik shake by Jackal a shot, it can be swam or allowed to sink. Just flat out a productive way to fish.

An octo hook 1/0 or a ewg ? Size

An octo hook 1/0 or a ewg ? Size

I use the 5/0 gammy weedless wacky hook.  I like the larger bite it offers.  However, I fish mine different than most guys.  I prefer a spinning rod as it allows me to skip the bait much farther.  I can skip it easily with casting gear, but not as far as the spinning rod.  I use a medium heavy 7 ft. rod and 10 pound braid.  I do not use a mono or floro leader.  The line I use has 5 lb. diameter.  It's very tough to see the line, but I can throw it anywhere you throw a texas rig.  I've been known to plow into the middle of a laydown, breaking branches the entire way, to retrieve a good fish.  However, most of the time I can get them out with slow, steady pressure.  Also, I hardly ever break off.

Bass hot dog!!!